Alexander Isak made his long-awaited debut for Liverpool on Wednesday evening.
The striker started the game for Arne Slot’s men when they faced Atletico Madrid in their first Champions League game of the season.
The tie ended 3-2 in Liverpool’s favour, with the Reds bagging yet another last-minute goal to earn them all three points.
However, it wasn’t one of their attackers who was the hero this time; instead, it was Virgil van Dijk who managed to tower above Robin Le Normand and coolly head the ball into the back of the net.
This is now the fifth time this season that the Reds have scored a late goal to win the game, with rival fans likely wondering when their luck is going to run out.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side's third goal in injury time during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
However, now that Isak is ready to play, it feels like Liverpool will only get better.
Rafa Benitez believes that Newcastle will be missing Alexander Isak after his transfer
Isak’s Liverpool transfer was the biggest story of the summer window.
Ever since it first opened at the start of June, it has felt nailed on that Isak was going to become a Liverpool player one way or another.
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Indeed, it may have taken until deadline day for Richard Hughes to agree a fee for the striker with the Magpies, but the main thing that matters is that he’s now a Liverpool player.
Isak may not have scored or assisted on his debut, but before the game against Atletico even kicked off, Rafa Benitez shared a “secret” about Isak’s move that he’d been told by Newcastle insiders.
“I will tell you a secret, talking to Newcastle United people, they are missing him,” he said to TNT Sports.
“He was doing so well, he was adapting to the style, to the game. He is clever with his movements; he can play in the middle or he can go wide. He runs in behind, and he can dribble.
“So I think it will be a great signing for Liverpool and a big miss for Newcastle United.”
Liverpool need to stop leaving their wins until the last minute
Although Liverpool may have got the results they wanted this season, the fact that it’s taken until the dying embers of their games is a cause for concern.
The Anfield outfit have spent over £400million on bringing new players in and, even though individually they’re all exceptional talents, at the moment, things haven’t properly gelled between them all.
Of course, players such as Hugo Ekitike have been in fine form, but others, like Milos Kerkez, have been way off the pace.
Of course, the fact that Liverpool have spent so much money on new players means that they more or less have two players per position, so the odd bad performance here and there isn’t too much of an issue.
Andrew Robertson of Liverpool celebrates scoring the first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
However, if they continue leaving it until the last minute to win their games, their luck will eventually run out.
At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen, but with Isak now among the starting XI, there’s hope that massive amounts of improvement will be seen over the next few weeks.